Chapter Text
It was the fact that Lee Han Yeong thought he could get away with it that was the most laughable. Kang Sin Jin is well-used to getting people out of his way. It would have been a simple matter for him to entrust Kwak Sun Won with a job, and have it be a bitter lesson learned not just for Lee Han Yeong, but for everyone else thinking of stepping out of line.
Still, some things have to be done personally. And Kang Sin Jin is, in spite of himself, intrigued. No one has ever dared defy him so openly, ever since he took the reigns of power behind the government. Those who tried had found themselves disgraced and forced to commit suicide, or simply left to Kwak Sun Won’s tender mercies. Kang Sin Jin has the second option reserved for Lee Han Yeong, but the expression on his face as he threw down the snapped pencil on his desk was so unlike that of the boy sobbing in the courtroom as his father was hauled off. Kang Sin Jin finds himself staying his hand out of curiosity. If only to ensure the blow is fatal, when he decides to let it fall.
Lee Han Yeong’s new office is a cluttered mess full of boxes and new-bought furniture. Still very much a work in progress, and the cramped rental is nothing like the elegant confines of Haenal’s firm. Lee Han Yeong is stripped to his shirtsleeves, arranging furniture by himself. He looks up when the door opens, clearly expecting a delivery man.
When he sees Kang Sin Jin, he freezes. Tracking him like an animal eyeing the hunter holding a rifle to its head as Kang Sin Jin locks the door and walks inside his new office with a practiced confidence of a procuror viewing the wares out on display.
“... To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Chief Justice Kang?” The words are polite enough but Lee Han Yeong doesn’t lower his gaze, or bow. Anyone else and this would have merited swift retribution. A reminder of where they stood in their power, and how easily Kang Sin Jin could take it away. But it amuses Kang Sin Jin to give Haenal’s wayward puppet a pretext of agency, so he does.
He doesn’t answer immediately, choosing instead to inspect the plastic-wrapped furniture, all brand new. As if Lee Han Yeong can buy a new life using the spoils from the old one. He’s silent for long enough that he notices Lee Han Yeong shifting uncomfortably, his gaze flicking from him to the exit. It’s a full fifteen minutes before Kang Sin Jin turns his attention from the empty shelves towards him. Walking towards Lee Han Yeong and stopping just in front of him, close enough that he can feel the body heat radiating from him, the sweat covering his skin, see the surprise in his deep brown eyes, behind his silver-framed glasses.
“I’m not here strictly on business, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m here to congratulate you.” Kang Sin Jin says. He notes idly that Lee Han Yeong is several inches shorter than him and has to crane his neck slightly to look him in the face. Now that his expression is no longer fixed in perpetual wan misery, Kang Sin Jin can see his features are unusually delicate, enough that he could easily pass for a man in his thirties, and bright with a piquant liveliness that not even his trepidation at Kang Sin Jin’s appearance can dim.
Hunger twists in Kang Sin Jin’s gut. Uncomfortable, usually easily ignored, but never quite forgotten. It’s a hunger he had learned to ignore in the conservative social milieu of South Korean politics, one he’d quelled as best as he could during the early part of his career. Kwak Sun Won had taken the edge off of it, later, as eager for sex as he was for killing on his savior’s command. But Kang Sin Jin had always found himself starving for something he could never quite name, unsatisfied by everything, even his hitman’s single-minded worship.
“I never thought you would have it in you to rebel outright.” Kang Sin Jin continues, watching Lee Han Yeong’s shoulders stiffen, his hunger twisting in his gut as Lee Han Yeong’s face clouds over but doesn’t fully dim. “Though maybe I should have, given your tendency to make deals behind your father-in-law’s back. The Gojin case being the most egregious example.” And then, to drive home the cruelty -
“One wonders why you even needed to put poor young Han Na Young through what she went through, when you were just going to grow a conscience later. Then again, you probably interpreted your mother’s death as some sort of divine retribution for your greed. She died a night later, didn’t she? Was it out of shame?” Lee Han Yeong flinches, looks away. But not before Kang Sin Jin sees the guilt there. The grief.
“She died because I refused to go with her to Han Na Young’s funeral,” He chokes out. “Asthma attack. She dropped her inhaler when she was about to head out, after trying to force me to accompany her. I never got it to her because Yoo Seon Cheol pulled me into an emergency meeting with Jang Tae Sik.” After this little bit of self-flagellation, he looks up. The rage in his eyes takes Kang Sin Jin’s breath away.
“I tried to resign right after - as you well know. But neither Yoo Seon Cheol nor Kim Jin Han would let me. They just handed me your decision to sign and told me I had no choice in the matter.” Lee Han Yeong says tightly, his gaze hard. “One can say you brought this entire mess on yourself, Chief Kang. Congratulate me all you like, but you’re the one who decided to twist the knife.” He takes a deep breath, his eyes closing briefly.
“I’m just doing what I can to atone, away from Haenal. Away from you.” He spits out. Kang Sin Jin smiles, amused.
“If only you had this much backbone when you were starting out,” He says. “You wouldn’t have made things so difficult for yourself, if you hadn’t already lost the respect of everyone around you. Perhaps your mother would still be alive.” Lee Han Yeong’s lips turn white with how tightly he’s pressing them together. He does bow then. Low, from the waist, every bit as ironic as his tone when he speaks.
“It’s never too late to change, Chief Kang. I know that better than most.” He says, his words cheerful but seething. “Now if you don’t mind, if your only intent is to insult me to my face, I’ll have to ask you to leave-”
Kang Sin Jin presses a hand to the middle of Lee Han Yeong’s chest, shoving him so that his back hits the wall of his new office, hard enough that he grunts in pain. Lee Han Yeong stares up at Kang Sin Jin, startled, and a vivid childhood memory resurfaces in Kang Sin Jin when he holds Lee Han Yeong trapped against the wall: that of the rats that had made their way inside of the kitchen of the brothel he grew up in. Kang Sin Jin used to watch them squirm, trapped in flypaper, their tiny hearts beating and black eyes shining with terror right before he poured boiling hot water on them to kill them.
Lee Han Yeong isn’t quite as afraid, not yet. But Kang Sin Jin lets himself enjoy the sight of Lee Han Yeong’s throat bobbing as he swallows, sweat trickling down his exposed neck. Despite the wariness shining in his eyes, his tanned skin flushes at Kang Sin Jin’s proximity, under the pressure of his palm on his chest, his eyes flickering towards Kang Sin Jin’s lips before he forcibly draws them away again.
Lee Han Yeong’s file had never described him being interested in men, but it’s not like he had been interested in much of anything the past ten years. Curiosity makes Kang Sin Jin lean in, close enough that his lips brush against Lee Han Yeong’s ear.
“I’m thinking of having you killed,” Kang Sin Jin says conversationally, then draws back to watch Lee Han Yeong’s expression. Lee Han Yeong flinches, the color draining from his face, his beautiful brown eyes glittering with the desperation of a trapped animal and heat flushes down Kang Sin Jin’s gut, all the way down his groin and thighs.
“Art. 283 of the Criminal Act: A person who intimidates another shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than three years, a fine of not more than five million won, detention, or a minor fine.” Lee Han Yeong says with remarkable steadiness. “Or maybe Art. 250 pf the same will be more of a deterrent: A person who kills another shall be punished by death, imprisonment for life, or for at least five years. I must remind you, Justice Kang, that as a public official you are tasked with upholding South Korea’s criminal laws, not subverting them.”
He tries to push Kang Sin Jin away, but Kang Sin Jin doesn’t let him. keeping him pinned up against the wall with his palm. Lee Han Yeong’s heartbeat speeds up even further as Kang Sin Jin slides his hand up his throat. Caressing the bare skin lightly before gripping him tightly by the chin so he can’t look away.
“And I must remind you, Han Yeong-ah, that I run more than just the judiciary.” Lee Han Yeong shivers. Kang Sin Jin watches with growing hunger as his cheeks flush red, his tongue darting out to wet his lips nervously. The tip swipes against Kang Sin Jin’s thumb as it traces his lower lip, and Lee Han Yeong stops breathing.
“Of course, I can’t have you becoming a martyr. So I’ll need to frame you for a crime that’ll turn the public against you.” Kang Sin Jin murmurs. Lee Han Yeong’s lips are slightly dry but soft, and so warm, and he doesn’t stop shivering. He doesn’t step away, either. Not when Kang Sin Jin strokes the corner of his mouth, up to the graceful curve of his cheekbones. Not when Kang Sin Jin steps forwards, close enough that their chests brush. Kang Sin Jin wonders if this is just ten years of ingrained cowardice making Lee Han Yeong go pliant and passive under his touch, that he would let any superior touch him, caress him, perhaps even bend him over and fuck him to their satisfaction, if perhaps he’s already had ample experience in this regard-
Jealousy has Kang Sin Jin seeing red. He grabs Lee Han Yeong by the throat, hard enough to make his breath stutter and his eyes widen in alarm. Kang Sin Jin tightens his grip ever so slightly, thrilling at the crush of vulnerable flesh beneath his palm, Lee Han Yeong’s sharp stacatto breaths going labored and panicked as he begins to struggle. Then he releases him, letting him gasp for breath, a sweet temporary reprieve before he slides his hand into Lee Han Yeong’s expensive linen shirt, far too expensive than any government official has any right to wear, thrilling at the touch of warm skin against his. Watching the color returning to Lee Han Yeong’s cheeks, a pretty pink staining his face, his neck, all the way down his chest as Kang Sin Jin withdraws his hand and starts unbuttoning his shirt.
Kang Sin Jin continues speaking into Lee Han Yeong’s ear as if he hasn’t been distracted. Tugging his shirt open and exposing his chest, watching his nipples harden and goosebumps erupt across his naked flesh in the cold air. “Or maybe I don’t actually have to, you’ve accepted plenty of bribes yourself, after all. I’m sure Han Na Young’s mother will be glad to file a complaint against you for corruption, even if she doesn’t live to see its conclusion.”
Lee Han Yeong flinches, his eyes flashing in guilt. “So why haven’t you done it yet?” He says through gritted teeth. “What’s the point of waiting around and telling me your plans?” His attempts to shove Kang Sin Jin’s hands away are thwarted as Kang Sin Jin pins his wrists to his sides. Trapping him between his body and the wall, a portrait of debauchery for Kang Sin Jin’s eyes alone as Lee Han Yeong shivers, straining against Kang Sin Jin’s grip, biting his lower lip as Kang Sin Jin releases his wrists to cup his hips, sliding his hands over his flanks and feeling them quiver beneath his palms. His flushed skin is fever-hot against Kang Sin Jin’s mouth as he dips his head down to taste his throat, and Kang Sin Jin smirks against his skin when Lee Han Yeong moans softly, his wrists quivering against the wall as if he’s forgotten about them, much less that they’re free. Unable to stop his own traitorous body from pressing closer against Kang Sin Jin as he bears down on him, practically pinning him to the wall as he sucks bruises onto the delicate skin of his throat.
“Who says they’re not already underway?” Kang Sin Jin’s teeth nip at the curve of Lee Han Yeong’s ear. “That the police aren’t waiting outside right now to arrest you?” Lee Han Yeong sucks in a breath, sharp and frightened. Remembering his own hands as he tries to shove Kang Sin Jin away. Kang Sin Jin catches them again. Trailing his lips across Lee Han Yeong’s wrist in a mockery of gentleness, feeling the frightened beat of his pulse beneath his hungry, hungry mouth.
All of a sudden, Lee Han Yeong stops struggling. Kang Sin Jin glances up at him, curious. Lee Han Yeong’s beautiful tanned skin is covered by a sheen of sweat, his glasses misted over. Despite his fear, his eyes aren’t downcast, not the way they used to be when Kang Sin Jin saw him around court. Right now, they hold all the furious defiance Kang Sin Jin had seen during the trial, and Kang Sin Jin is riveted.
“So you’re here to force yourself on me before you destroy my life completely, because you can no longer control me.” The disgust in Lee Han Yeong’s expression draws Kang Sin Jin up short. Oddly enough, it reminds him of being caught stealing money as a child by Noona. Not for fear of a beating, but for the diappointment on her soft face. The same disappointment is echoed on Lee Han Yeong’s face, mingled with bitter resignation. “You’re really no better than the rest of them, are you?”
Kang Sin Jin responds by grabbing his chin and kissing him.
It’s slow. Lee Han Yeong’s mouth is slack beneath Kang Sin Jin’s, unresponsive even as Kang Sin Jin slips his tongue between his lips. But as Kang Sin Jin continues to deepen the kiss, he feels Lee Han Yeong’s skin heating up, hears the ragged sigh from his lips, the almost shy way he lets him lick into his mouth even as he refuses to kiss Kang Sin Jin back. Because Lee Han Yeong is hungry, too. And unable to help himself as he remembers how it is to eat.
Lee Han Yeong breaks the kiss, holding his trembling hand against his kiss-bruised lips as he glares at Kang Sin Jin through misted-over glasses.
“On the contrary, I’m here to make you an offer.” Kang Sin Jin plucks Lee Han Yeong’s glasses off - making him blink and squint in confusion – and tucking them into his blazer pocket before dragging an experimental palm against Lee Han Yeong’s nipple. Lee Han Yeong makes a small, strangled noise he quickly stifles with the same hand pressed against his lips, shivering harder as Kang Sin Jin pinches and rolls at the pebbled flesh beneath the fingers of one hand. The other grabs onto Lee Han Yeong’s wrist, watching Lee Han Yeong struggle to free himself. A difficult thing to do as he seems at war with his own body, his trembling fingers tangling into Kang Sin Jin’s hair as Kang Sin Jin guides his arm to settle around his shoulders, Lee Han Yeong’s other hand dropping to his side, his eyes going half-lidded with pleasure when Kang Sin Jin presses a knee between Lee Han Yeong’s legs, right against the tenting in his slacks.
Lee Han Yeong gasps, his eyes wide and shocked and full-body shiver going through him at the sensation. Kang Sin Jin bears down harder against Lee Han Yeong’s groin, and Lee Han Yeong’s knees buckle just as his other arm flies up to wrap around Kang Sin Jin’s shoulders for support. He slumps against Kang Sin Jin, trembling, and Kang Sin Jin smiles when he hears him curse, feeling Lee Han Yeong’s half-hard bulge going stiffer and his nails scraping against the back of his neck when Kang Sin Jin reaches down to cup it in his palm. Squeezing it, watching Lee Han Yeong’s expression going glazed before shoving him back against the wall as he begins to unbuckle his trousers.
“My most trusted man is waiting outside this office as we speak,” Kang Sin Jin says, brisk and business-like as he unbuttons Lee Han Yeong’s fly, draws down the zipper. “He has S Corporation’s lead witness with him. He’s also under instructions to pin his murder on you.” Lee Han Yeong stares at him, horrified but no less hard as Kang Sin Jin slides a hand into his boxers.
“Don’t feel too bad for him – S Corporation would have had him killed anyway, and much more slowly.” One hand closes around Lee Han Yeong’s cock, feeling his mouth water at how wet and hard Lee Han Yeong already is, precum dripping down his shaft, his balls tight and full. The other grips the back of his neck as if he’s a wayward kitten, feeling every goosepimple shivering through Lee Han Yeong’s delicate skin.
“Of course, I can always change my mind. If you give me what I want.” Lee Han Yeong hisses as Kang Sin Jin’s grip tightens on his cock, visibly struggling not to thrust into his hand. His own are yanking at Kang Sin Jin’s tie like he’s torn between trying to strangle him or bringing him closer, trembling and twisting into Kang Sin Jin’s collar as he gives his cock a generous squeeze.
“Give you what? Lee Han Yeong bites out, cursing as his hips involuntarily thrust up with a hastily stifled moan, his body curving towards Kang Sin Jin’s as he jerks him off, lazy and cruelly slow. “My body? Because you’re doing a pretty good job taking what you want anyway.”
“Would you like me to stop?” Kang Sin Jin asks mildly. Lee Han Yeong shivers, glaring at him. His face is fully crimson now, and the sheer hatred and defiance on his face after so long watching him duck his head and scurry like a mouse has lust burning through Kang Sin Jin’s veins hotter than the dick in his hand.
Kang Sin Jin remembers Lee Han Yeong’s tears at a long-ago courtroom, and wonders what it’ll take to get him to cry.
“It shouldn’t be a problem, selling yourself to me again,” Kang Sin Jin says. His hand squeezes Lee Han Yeong’s dripping cock. “After all, you’ve sold yourself plenty of times over throughout your career.”
Lee Han Yeong moans, then comes right there, in Kang Sin Jin’s hand. His knees tremble as he slumps against the wall, nearly yanking Kang Sin Jin forwards by the necktie. Kang Sin Jin breathes hard in a bid to compose himself, staring from him to his stained hand, a little nonplussed at how quickly Lee Han Yeong finished but not particularly surprised either given how desperate for touch he seems to be.
For his part, Lee Han Yeong glares at him. A sweat-soaked, pathetic heap leaning against the wall for support, his arms trembling as they slide down Kang Sin Jin’s shoulders to his waist.
“Well, Han Yeong-ah? The life of a man hangs in the balance.” Kang Sin Jin’s lips brush against Lee Han Yeong’s sweat-covered neck, tasting the skin there. “It’s your call whether you save him, or damn him alongside you.” Lee Han Yeong shivers as Kang Sin Jin’s greedy teeth scrape against his nape. Tilting his neck up like he’s offering his throat to Kang Sin Jin even as helpless words spill from his lips.
“What do you want from me?” Lee Han Yeong asks. Angry, and in so much despair that Kang Sin Jin aches with hunger.
“Let me give you what you want. That’s what I’m asking for,” Kang Sin Jin murmurs, dropping cruelly gentle kisses on Lee Han Yeong’s nape, feeling him shiver harder, his long fingers tangling in Kang Sin Jin’s hair and tugging, hard. Yet somehow he scrapes up enough defiance to spit out at Kang Sin Jin.
“Go fuck yourself, Sin Jin,” Lee Han Yeong hisses. Not even bothering with honorifics anymore, his eyes brilliant with tears. “I know the kind of deals you force people to make. I’d rather go back to Haenal than owe you.” Kang Sin Jin smiles, cold, his hand tightening on the scruff of Lee Han Yeong’s collar.
“Even if it’s the only thing that can save the life of one man? Then again, you had no problems driving a young woman to suicide, didn’t you? Not until it directly affected you.” Lee Han Yeong flinches, then yelps as Kang Sin Jin drags him forwards and forcibly shoves him over his own desk. His nameplate skitters off the desk onto the floor.
Lee Han Yeong struggles with surprising strength, but as Kang Sin Jin’s fingers dig into his neck, he stops moving. His whole trembling body a tightened coil of tension. Just a frightened animal, waiting for the worst to be over and to limp away to survival. Or a prisoner numbly accepting punishment.
That won’t do. Kang Sin Jin doesn’t want to rape him, after all. But neither is he about to let Lee Han Yeong forget who owns him. Who still owns him, will always own him, no matter how many times he tries to escape.
So Kang Sin Jin gentles his touch. His fingers gliding across the sweaty column of Lee Han Yeong’s neck instead of leaving dark bruises. Pulling his sweat-stained shirt off all the way and flinging it to the ground, leaning over him as he covers the back of his neck and shoulders with kisses. All the while, his dirty hand skates over Lee Han Yeong’s trembling belly, smearing come on his skin and dragging through the curls of hair leading to his pubic area, then lower, squeezing his softened cock.
It has the desired effect. Lee Han Yeong moans, soft and deep. Kang Sin Jin watches, amused, as the tension eases out of his spine. He begins to shiver anew under Kang Sin Jin’s mouth, blushing even harder but making no move to free himself, or push away Kang Sin Jin. His arms crossed in front of him and his head lowered on top of them as he fights to calm his breathing.
Kang Sin Jin releases him just long enough to shuck off his blazer and loosen his tie and collar, undo his own belt and push down his own trousers and underwear. He brushes his hair out of his eyes, already come loose from the pomade he uses to sweep it back. Then he caresses the curve of Lee Han Yeong’s hip with a gentle hand, indulging himself by squeezing his firm ass, making Lee Han Yeong’s shoulders jump and his breath stutter.
“Put your thighs together,” Kang Sin Jin instructs. Lee Han Yeong obeys with surprising obedience, his eyes fluttering shut when Kang Sin Jin thrusts his cock in the exquisitely tight space between his joined thighs. Dragging in, and out through the silky skin, rubbing up against Lee Han Yeong’s perineum and his sac, feeling his softened cock stir at the rhythm, losing himself in pure physical sensation.
Pressure building and building and Kang Sin Jin thrusts faster and faster. And then Lee Han Yeong’s hand darts out, groping blindly behind him until he grabs hold of Kang Sin Jin’s and squeezes, almost hard enough to break his fingers -
And then Kang Sin Jin is coming in between Lee Han Yeong’s trembling thighs. Emptying himself between them and staining Lee Han Yeong’s skin, and the rush is more satisfying than any meal at the Manwol.
With a soft, pathetic grunt Lee Han Yeong comes a second time, with Kang Sin Jin’s cock still held between his thighs. His hand trembles on Kang Sin Jin’s, squeezing tight enough that Kang Sin Jin feels his bones grinding together. Then he abruptly lets go, burying his face back between his arms, shaking so hard that the only thing keeping him from crumpling to the floor is his own desk.
Kang Sin Jin stares from him to the flesh of his hand, the whitened marks left by Lee Han Yeong’s grip, rapidly returning to its normal color except for the faint red spots. He pulls his trousers up, then reaches forwards almost tentatively, settling his hand over Lee Han Yeong’s trembling back as he sobs into his arms. Lee Han Yeong makes a small, wounded noise, but doesn’t jerk back, or flinch away. Not even when Kang Sin Jin strokes gently down his sweat-covered spine, remembering a long-ago promulgation, and the tears Lee Han Yeong had cried then. Of course, it would be pleasure that would make him weep, and Kang Sin Jin can’t bring himself to regret it.
As Kang Sin Jin’s hand strokes his back, he stares at Lee Han Yeong’s fallen nameplate and notes with satisfaction that Lee Han Yeong will always remember this when he works at this very desk.
Finally, Lee Han Yeong speaks. “I want justice,” He whispers, his voice floats up, faint and muffled, his face still buried in his arms over his desk, his pants and underwear around his ankles, his legs dripping with come. “The one thing you’ll never be able to give me.” Before Kang Sin Jin can react, he pushes himself off the table with a groan. Only Kang Sin Jin’s arms around him keep him from crumpling into a heap onto the floor.
Lee Han Yeong yanks his trousers up, heedless of the come smeared on his skin as he zips up his fly with still-unsteady hands. To Kang Sin Jin’s surprise he turns around, still in his hold, his hand closing around his tie and twisting tight enough that he can feel it constricting his airflow. For a split second, Kang Sin Jin wonders if he’s trying to strangle him. Lee Han Yeong glares at him with the defiance that Kang Sin Jin somehow hasn’t managed to fuck out of him, his eyes red and his cheeks wet, and then he’s pulling him down into a kiss.
It’s not shy this time, and nothing close to passive. Lee Han Yeong kisses him like he has absolutely nothing left to lose, reckless with filthy abandon as Kang Sin Jin curses at his teeth and grips him by the chin in warning before welcoming Lee Han Yeong’s tongue in his mouth. Tasting the salt of his tears as his hand strokes down his spine to the small of his back, slowing him down with pointed gentleness that has Lee Han Yeong shuddering and practically melting against him.
Lee Han Yeong’s knees really do give out at this point, and then Kang Sin Jin’s attempt to catch him ends with them on the floor together. Kang Sin Jin still in a state of embarrassing dishevelment as Lee Han Yeong practically crawls onto his lap. Wrenching at his collar, pushing against him like a beaten dog desperate for the first kind touch he’s received in years. Kissing him until he runs out of air and he slumps against Kang Sin Jin, the jut of his chin digging into his shoulder, his cheek hot with weeping against his neck.
Kang Sin Jin is too bemused to do anything but hold him, his clean hand settling against the back of Lee Han Yeong’s head. Scratching lightly at his scalp as Lee Han Yeong catches his breath. A beaten dog desperately soaking up scraps of affection from the person about to lead him to slaughter, and for the first time in a long, long time Kang Sin Jin feels something approaching pity as Lee Han Yeong shivers and leans into his touch.
After a few moments, Lee Han Yeong speaks.
“You can frame me for whatever you can think of. It’s not like I can stop you. You can even fuck me as many times as you want without my being able to do anything about it.” Lee Han Yeong swallows hard as he raises his head to look Kang Sin Jin in the eye. His swollen gaze utterly hopeless but still somehow so defiant, even while he’s right here sitting on Kang Sin Jin’s lap.
“But you can never give me enough of what I want that you can own me again. Never again.” Kang Sin Jin brushes the errant strands off of his forehead. Lee Han Yeong’s gaze flutters shut, resting his head against his shoulder like he’s given up fighting it. Fighting him. All things considered, a good sign.
“We’ll see about that,” Kang Sin Jin says. After all, Lee Han Yeong’s body had done the answering for him even as his mouth and will said otherwise. For that alone, Kang Sin Jin’s willing to hold back on sending him to prison and gifting him a summary execution - If only to see him willingly retreat back into the yoke he thought he had escaped.
When his legs are falling asleep, Kang Sin Jin pushes Lee Han Yeong off of him. Lee Han Yeong goes quietly, watching as Kang Sin Jin dries off his soiled hand on a piece of chamois that Lee Han Yeong had probably been intending to use for dusting the place,then makes himself decent again. To his mild dismay, his own clothes have gotten rumpled and stained, his collar twisted and his tie in no better condition.
Lee Han Yeong doesn’t stir from where he’s curled up on the floor, his face set and tight. His shoulders are bowed, his knees tucked to his chest. Utterly pathetic in every way and Kang Sin Jin once again feels the pity stirring uncomfortably in his gut. But neither does he miss the small triumph in Lee Han Yeong’s eyes as Kang Sin Jin inspects the stained sleeve of his favorite blazer, the filthy state of his own clothes, not just covered in come but grimy from the dust covering the floor of Lee Han Yeong’s office. Fortunately his safehouse is nearby, and he always keeps a spare suit in his car. He can take a shower there and make it on time for his afternoon meeting with the Suojae. It’s not like they can start without him.
Kang Sin Jin sighs. Plucks Lee Han Yeong’s glasses out of the pocket of his blazer before wiping the lenses clear and placing it back on his face. He watches Lee Han Yeong blink in surprise for a moment before picking up his discarded shirt off the floor, settling it over his shoulders along with Kang Sin Jin’s own soiled blazer. After a moment of thought, he ruffles Lee Han Yeong’s sweat-soaked hair gently, then trails his palm against his cheek before wiping at his face with a handkerchief, then his torso.
To his satisfaction, Lee Han Yeong lets him, leaning against Kang Sin Jin as he cleans him up as best as he can, warm skin pressing against warm skin. His cheeks burning as he shoves away Kang Sin Jin’s hand just as he places it on his lower belly.
“I can take it from here.” He croaks. For a moment Kang Sin Jin thinks of ignoring him, unzipping his fly once again and jerking him off until he comes dry, make him weep with overstimulation. But a glance at the clock preserves what’s left of Lee Han Yeong’s virtue. He’s stayed here longer than he should have.
He stuffs the handkerchief into Lee Han Yeong’s trembling fist before standing up, noting the relieved slump of his shoulders and the minute way he leans into Kang Sin Jin’s fingers trailing against his jaw before jerking away. He stands, picks up the nameplate and sets it back on Lee Han Yeong’s desk, well away from the puddle of drying come on the dark wood, noting how the corner has been dinged but his name on the brass plate still shines, unmarred.
“Was it enough?” Kang Sin Jin glances at Lee Han Yeong, sitting cross-legged on the floor, his trousers stained and his hair a mess. His voice is hollow, dull. So are his eyes, behind his glasses. “I just gave up the last of my self-respect to you. Was it at least enough to save my life, and Han Jeong Hun’s?”
Kang Sin Jin gets down on one knee, grips Lee Han Yeong’s chin between his fingers. Lee Han Yeong doesn’t move away, but he doesn’t lean into it either. Just staring at Kang Sin Jin like all the fight’s gone out of him, and irritation squeezes Kang Sin Jin’s gut as he remembers curling up in a heap of garbage, too weak to cry from hunger. Lee Han Yeong had a family and all the support Kang Sin Jin so painfully lacked and hungered for but he still turned out this empty, this pathetic, so maybe in the long run Kang Sin Jin had been the fortunate one.
Maybe if Lee Han Yeong hadn’t been raised with a conscience, he would have survived the world Kang Sin Jin had been able to seize.
“You’ve bought yourself time,” Kang Sin Jin says roughly, digging his fingers into Lee Han Yeong’s chin, trying to make it hurt enough to spark some sort of reaction in Lee Han Yeong’s eyes. “As for Han Jeong Hun... that depends on what S Corporation decides to do with him. Perhaps you saved his life just to give him a worse death.” Lee Han Yeong’s mouth twists into a wry smile.
“So I sold myself to the devil for a bargain that was never worth it. Again.” His arms wrap around himself, curling in defensively. The emptiness in his eyes remains unchanged. “At least it was just my body this time. Not my soul.”
Kang Sin Jin tries a different tack, releasing Lee Han Yeong’s chin to splay his fingers against his cheek, cradling it against his palm. In spite of himself, Lee Han Yeong curves towards the gentleness. Swallowing audibly, unable to stop himself from pushing his face into his hand like a dog begging for kindness. And Kang Sin Jin has nothing to lose, so he does. Stroking up Lee Han Yeong’s cheek to his hair, scratching at his scalp. Watching intrigued, as the emptiness on Lee Han Yeong’s face clears at his lingering touch, his eyes lighting up with something pathetically pleading. How his hand closes over Kang Sin Jin’s. Holding him loosely, his palm almost feverishly warm against the back of Kang Sin Jin’s hand at the same moment he looks up with his sad eyes and scrapes together enough defiance to throw at Kang Sin Jin’s face, one last time.
“Maybe next time, you’re going to be the one desperate to give me what I need.” He says. Kang Sin Jin can’t help it, he laughs, a little angry with himself at how pleased he is with Lee Han Yeong’s sheer audacity. Not liking how much he likes Lee Han Yeong’s gumption, or his boldness – both of which he somehow still possesses in spades, even curled up half-naked in front of Kang Sin Jin, clinging desperately to his hand like a child frightened of being left alone.
Kang Sin Jin gently extricates his hand, noting with amusement how Lee Han Yeong’s grip tightens around it. A kiss to the forehead has Lee Han Yeong exhaling, leaning closer. Soothed in spite of himself, desperate for touch, for human contact. Kang Sin Jin supposes this is what ten years of being starved of anything resembling kindness or affection would do to a person used to a surfeit of the latter, and his stomach twists, sudden anger making him want to drag his fingers through Lee Han Yeong’s hair and yank at it until he sees tears lining those defiant eyes again.
He ignores it. What Lee Han Yeong crave for is kindness, so it’s kindness that Kang Sin Jin will give him, a bone tossed to a starving dog. He kisses him again, this time on the lips. Lee Han Yeong’s throat works like he’s stopping himself from whining.
“You can always end your nonsense and come back to the fold,” Kang Sin Jin murmurs, feeling rather like a parent coaxing his prodigal child to return. Lee Han Yeong shakes his head, withdraws.
“You don’t want me back. You’re just angry I was able to leave.” Lee Han Yeong says shortly, triumph flashing in his eyes as Kang Sin Jin presses his lips tightly together. He turns away when Kang Sin Jin tries to kiss him again. His hands digging into his arms, clearly stopping himself from reaching for Kang Sin Jin as he lets go and gets to his feet, walks away.
He has one last parting message for Lee Han Yeong before walking out.
“You left the judiciary, Han Yeong-ah,” Kang Sin Jin says, his hand on the doorknob. “You’re not escaping me as easily.” He can feel Lee Han Yeong’s burning gaze as he walks out of the office. Haunting him like the echo of his touch, long after he’s left him behind.